Professional Education
Loss Lessons: Recognition of Wernicke Encephalopathy
Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a syndrome commonly seen in patients with alcohol use disorder who do not take adequate thiamine. WE should be suspected in any patient with conditions that may lead to malnutrition in combination with any of the following symptoms: altered mental status ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, delirium, and hypotension. Considered a medical emergency, it must be reversed to prevent permanent deficits. This case illustrates a cascade of errors which led to permanent disability. Some practical interventions to quickly recognize and reverse the condition are offered following the case presentation, which will be helpful for gastroenterology/gastroenterologists, ophthalmology/ophthalmologists, and neurology/neurologists.
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During COVID-19, Doctor Donates Tribute Award to Medical School Alma Mater
Richard A. Bond, DO, FAAFM, who recently retired from family practice, donated the entirety of his Tribute® Plan award to the emergency fund of his medical school alma mater, California’s Western University of Health Sciences.
Mar 04, 2024
Loss Lessons: Practicing Out of Bounds
Our complimentary on-demand course provides strategies for establishing policies and protocols to address scope of practice for unlicensed staff.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
May 11, 2023, Inside Medical Liability Online
Postpartum Malpractice Claims: Can We Understand Preventable Harms and Socioeconomic Factors?
Rates for maternal morbidity and mortality are higher in the U.S. than in any other developed country—and many of the harms suffered by patients are preventable. In a multifactorial study, David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group; Jacqueline Ross, PhD, RN, CPAN, Coding Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, and Shelise Valentine, RNC, MSN, Director of Clinical Education, Healthcare Risk Advisors, part of TDC Group, investigated postpartum claims to develop clinical recommendations to decrease the risks of postpartum morbidity and mortality.
Professional Education
Burnout: Spotlight on Improving Practice Efficiencies
In this CME program, Christine Sinsky, MD, highlights practice redesign strategies to help clinicians improve practice efficiencies, recover professional fulfillment, and improve patient safety.
Professional Education
Loss Lessons: Practicing Out of Bounds
Unlicensed staff are vital to efficient patient flow in medical practice. Healthcare organizations have many tasks that are safely and effectively carried out by skilled unlicensed support staff every day. To reach such efficiencies with safety and reliability, careful attention must be given to scope of practice and state and local statutes regarding delegation and supervision. Policies and protocols that outline the scope of practice for unlicensed staff to follow independently, and when they must consult with licensed staff, help even the most talented of your staff understand their boundaries. This case illustrates how informal verbal guidelines can blur the lines and cause well-meaning staff to cross the boundary lines of their scope leading to misdiagnosis and death.
Jun 17, 2022
Landmark Legislation Preserves Medical Liability Reform in California
California legislators have enacted AB 35, a bill that ensures the preservation of the state’s longstanding Medical Injury Compensation Reform
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Mar 07, 2025
Foundation Accepting Letters of Intent for 2025 Grants
The Doctors Company Foundation is currently accepting Letters of Intent for its 2025 grant cycle. Letters of Intent will be accepted through the end of business on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Feb 26, 2016
Disclosure Resources Appendix 1: Empathetic and Non-Empathetic Statements
Physicians should use empathetic statements and avoid non-empathetic statements when disclosing adverse events or complications to patients.
Informed Consent Sample Forms
Customize our informed consent sample forms to your practice and your patients.